Bahraini regime forces have launched a new crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in the tiny Persian Gulf nation.

In a number of villages near the Bahraini capital, Manama, regime forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators.

The crackdown came as the demonstrators were chanting slogans in solidarity with political detainees. The protesters also called for the downfall of the Al Khalifa regime.

Earlier this month, Bahraini protesters gathered in the island of Sitra to express their outrage over recent measures adopted by the Bahraini government to grant citizenship to foreign nationals. The move by the regime came shortly after a court stripped 13 Bahrainis of their nationality over charges of involvement in “terrorist” operations.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of anti-government protesters have held numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

One month after the start of anti-regime protests, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on peaceful protesters.

According to local sources, scores of people have been killed and hundreds arrested.

Human rights groups have voiced concern over the treatment of the Bahraini activists being kept in prisons and the atrocities committed by authorities and security forces in the government crackdown.